Braiding carrier



Jan. 21, 1936. M, KRlSslEP 2,028,222

BRAIDING CARRIER Filed Feb. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'IN VEN TOR.

H jfi'ssie Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAIDING CARRIER Application February 13, 1935, Serial No. 6,279

14 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding machines, and more particularly, to the bobbin carriers for such machines.

In braiding machines having race-plates, it is well-known, that the carriers move past each other along intersecting race-courses. Considerable difficulty has heretofore been experienced with carriers, particularly with those having bobbin axes held in a plane parallel to the top of the race-plate. This has been partly caused by improper positioning of the axles, whereby the latter strike the passing carriers, resulting at times in considerable damage to the moving parts of the machine before it could be stopped manually.

In braiding machines of this particular type; having horizontal race-plates, the bobbin carriers can not, ordinarily, be employed interchangeably on braiding machines having vertically positioned race-plates, and particularly so in the case of carriers having weights for tensioning the yarn.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these defects, and to provide a device which is so constructed as to substantially remove all possibility of damage to the moving machine parts caused by the striking of one carrier against another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a braiding-machine carrier effective for use inter.- changeably in a horizontal as well as in the vertical type of braiding machines, and more particu larly to provide a carrier for completely controlling the braiding material, even where wire, havbe used.

Furthermore, this means may also operate as a shock-absorber, and as herein illustrated, it may be used as a combined bobbin-pawl release and axle-latch device embodying but a single spring together with a novel slot guide for an automatic stop lever.

Another object is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of one illustrative and practical embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed. out -in, the claims.

In the drawings:

ing an inherent tendency to unwind itself, may

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a braiding carrier constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2. is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the braiding carrier shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a view partiallysectional and part in plan taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the line 55 of- Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and '7 are views, similar to Fig. l, but with portions cut away to more clearly illustrate the various parts of the device in different operative positions; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88, of Fig. 6, and further, illustrating a stop lever for cooperation therewith.

In carrying out this invention, the preferred form herein illustrated is given merely by way of example and is not intended to limit the many and varied forms and combinations in which this type of structure may be embodied. Thus, more particularly, a double-arm standard having an inverted U-shape may have a strand-guide eye at the top and be joined at its lower ends to a carrier foot or base. A bobbin carrying a ratchet, or similar bobbin support, may cooperate with a pawl or brake, and be horizontally pivoted be-' tween the standard arms on an axle having a latch or detent portion adjacent to one end. A single spring, connected between and tensioning a latch for the axle detent as well as the ratchet pawl, may so bias both the latch and the detent that, when the axle is in any but proper position, the stop mechanism is fixedly maintained set in its stopping position and the parts are therefore so positioned that the machine cannot operate. A member movably mounted on the standard may act as a shock absorber for a tension member and may also assume its usual function, namely, directly engaging a stop-motion lever of the machine, whereby the tension lever itself may be more delicately and better balanced, and therefore the entire device becomes freer from shocks and less subject to injury. A spring-biased flaplike element may also be used to engage the coiled strand on the bobbin substantially throughout the length of the coil and thus prevent the unwinding of the strands from the bobbin.

In all of the drawings corresponding numerals indicate similar or corresponding parts, and where repeatedthese numbers have been added in order to more clearly indicate the relationship of the various parts.

In the example illustrated in the drawings, the invention is specifically embodied in a braiding carrier having a double-armed or distorted U- shaped spindle carrying standard having upright arms l0 and lila. The arms l0 and Illa are supported on a base member or carrier foot I2, the other ends of the arms being connected by a portion integrally cast therewith and which in turn provides a mounting for a guide eye 13, Fig. 2. The base plate or carrier foot l2 has a heart piece 9 which slidably engages in the raceway of the braiding machine. A stop-actuating lever I4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 15 journalledin legs l6 projecting vertically from the base' 12. Lever I4 has horizontally extending wing portions I! which pass freely through slots 18 in frames It, and are normally biased against the tops of the slots 18. When pressed downwardly so that lever it isin a horizontal position, wings I! engage a lever 99, Fig; 8, for operating a stopactuating mechanism (not shown). The wings H are held in their inoperative position relative to the lever I9, Fig. 8, by a helical spring 20, which is secured, at one end, to the lever l4 and, at its other end, to one of the legs l6, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8.

A bobbin or spindle reel 22 is rotatably mounted on an axle 23, which is carried by the uprights 19 and Ma. A pin 24, Fig. 3, extending through the axle, cooperates with a groove 25 in the upright 10a to position the axle '23. A lock element 26, pivoted to the upright member I0 through means of a stud 3| in manner shown in the drawings, cooperates with a recess in the other or free end of the axle to hold it in place. The unwinding of a braiding strand 21 from the bobbin 22 is controlled by a pawl or lever 28, Fig; 1, which is iulcrumed at 29 to the upright member Ii], and has a pawl portion 2 8a cooperating with a ratchet wheel 30' on the bobbin 22. Yielding engagement between the pawl 28a and the ratchet 30 is provided by a tension spring 32' connected both to the lock element 26 and the pawl lever 28.

As a means for suitably tensioning the wirelike strand 2's in addition to taking up such slack as develops therein during the movement of the carrier along its sinuous pathway, an arm 33, carrying a guide member or pulley'34 which engages the strand, is pivoted on a pin 35 in an arm 36, Fig. 3, of the upright ma. A helical spring 31, having its opposite ends secured to the arms 33 and 36, respectively, see Fig. 5, is provided to impart tensioning action to the arm 33.

The feeding of the strand 2'! from the bobbin 22 is effected by the latch pawl 28 which is tripped out of engagement with the ratchet 38 by lever arm.33, Fig. 1. This action is caused by the tensioning lever 33, which, upon continuing its clockwise movement from the position shown in Fig. 1, coacts withone end of the lever 28 and im parts a corresponding movement to the latter to move the pawl 280. out of holding engagement with the ratchet 30. Upon such release of the ratchet the biasing action of the spring 31 on the lever 33 imparts a counterclockwise moveratchet .30.

operation of the braiding machine; the movement of the carriers and the drawing-01f of the braided product by its being incorporated in the finished braided product, both cooperatively functioning to shorten the length of wire between the braiding point and the bobbin, and consequently between the guide eye 53 and the bobbin 22. It is this using up of the braid strand that raises the lever 33 in the manner above described.

The spring 31, Fig. 3, acts oppositely to, and is appreciably stronger than the spring 22, consequently, when the braid strand 2? breaks or unwinds excessively from the bobbin, the arm 33 moves from the position of Figs. 1 and 3 to the position of Figs. 6 and '7. This causes arm 33 to coact with a pin 38, Fig. 8, carried by the stop actuating lever 14, to lower the latter from its inoperative position, Figs. 1 and 3, to the plane of the stopper lever I9,Fig. 8, for operating the stop mechanism. Thus, upon reaching the relative positions shown in Fig. 8, the lever i9 will be operated or tripped by one of the wings ll of the lever 12 and the braiding machine will be stopped. The lever l4 therefore, not only operates to actuate the lever 19 but also functions as a shock absorber for the tension lever 33 whereby the integrated action of the machine is smoother and quieter, and the strand is fed more uniformly and more freely.

The stop actuating lever I2 is also actuated by the tensioning lever 33, when an excess of wire is fed from the bobbin 22. This may occur accidentally, as when the lock element 2'6 is not placed properly while changing a bobbin, or if it becomes dislodged during the operation of the machine. Thus the latch 28 may assume the respective position shown in Fig. '7. By means of this combination of elements, a safety device is provided by means of which the operation of the machine, wherein the device is used, is automatically stopped. Furthermore any breakage of parts which may result in case the machine is started before the axle 23 is locked in its operative position by the lock element 26 is also avoided. When the pawl 28 has the tension on its spring 32 released as shown in Fig. 7, no means is provided for moving pawl 28 back into holding engagement with its associated ratchet 36. Thus, continued unwinding of the bobbin 22 takes place, permitting the lever 33 to drop onto lug 38 and cause lever Hi and its associated arms or lugs il to drop into operative position to trip the stopmotionlever I 9,Whereupon the machine is stopped. By this arrangement, the braiding machine is automatically stopped, thus preventing the axle 23 from striking a passing carrier and breaking some of the moving parts. The latch bearing arm of lever 28 is preferably so designed that once the tension on its spring 32 is permanently released as shown in Fig. '7, the associated parts can be put into cooperation only by resetting the locking element 26. The leading end of the axle 23 is rounded, as better seen in Fig. 3, whereby, when the axle is inserted to within a certain distance short of its operative position, it will, upon the release of the inserting force, be reversely or outwardly moved by a camming action of the locking element 26 transversely against the rounded leading end of the axle, thus preventing operation of the device until the axle is carefully and exactly placed in operative position.

A spring actuated flap 39, pivotally mounted on a pin 20 which is journalled in ear portions 42 and 42a of the uprights It and Illa respectively, is urged into yieldingengagement with the strand or strands on the bobbin by a coil'spring 43 carried by the pin 40. The flap39 is particularly suitable for adapting this type of carrier for use in horizontal braiding machines as well as serving a definite purpose in vertical machines. -In either case, the coils of the strand 21 are prevented from unravelling from the'bobbin irrespective of whether the strand is ruptured or whether its tension is otherwise released.

This tendency to leave the bobbin is particularly inherent in certain spring steel wires or wire braid strands. These strands wound against their natural or straightened condition display a potential resiliency which causes them to tend to unwind, especially in their outer turns or convolutions. By holding these turns substantially flat against the surface of their associated bobbin, as by the flap 39, such unwinding is held in check to a degree ensuring efiective operation of the machine eveninview of this obj ectionablefeature of the strands.

It is to be specifically understood that the improvements or embodiments shown and described herein and by means of which I obtain the above enumerated or accompanying beneficial and desirable results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereafter defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a bobbin, means movable between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, means for controlling the bobbin to tension the yarn, and means cooperating between said control means and said holding means in the holding position thereof providing for yarn-tensioning cooperation between the bobbin and the control means, and, in the releasing position of said holding means, to prevent tensioning of the yarn and to maintain the stopping member in position to prevent operation of the machine.

2. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a yarntensioning member, a bobbin, means movable between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, means for controlling the bobbin to tension the yarn, and means cooperating between said control means and said holding and releasing means in the holding position thereof providing for yarn-tensioning cooperation between the bobbin and the control means, and, in the releasing position of said holding and releasing means, to prevent tensioning of the yarn whereby the tension member is maintained in relation to the stopping member to prevent operation of the machine.

3. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a base, a standard on the base, a bobbin, a bobbinsupporting axle removably mounted on the standard and having a detent portion, a pawl on the standard for holding and releasing the bobbin, a latch on the standard for the detent, and means cooperating between the pawl and the latch for biasing both the pawl and the latch into operative position.

4. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a yarnsaid first means in the holding position thereof providing for yam-tensioning cooperation between' the pawl and the ratchet and, inthe releasing position of the first means, to prevent cooperation between the pawl and the ratchet whereby the yarn is maintained slack and the tension member is maintained in relation to the stopping member to prevent operation of the machine.

5. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a yarntensioning member, a bobbin, an axle movable between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, a ratchet wheel carried by the bobbin, a pawl for the ratchet, a movable element for holding the axle in operative position, and means cooperating between the pawl and the axle-holding element in the operative position of the axle held by said element providing for yarn-tensioning cooperation between the pawl and the ratchet, and, in an inoperative position of the axle and the holding element, to prevent cooperation between the pawl and the ratchet whereby the yarn is maintained slack and the tension member is maintained in relation to the stopping member to prevent operation of the machine.

6. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a yarntensioning member, a bobbin, an axle movable between positions holding thebobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, a ratchet wheel carried by the bobbin, a pawl for the ratchet, a movable element for holding the axle in operative position, and meansi'ncluding a spring connected between the pawl and the axle-holding element, said means operating, in the operative position of the axle held by said element, to bias the pawl toward the ratchet, and, in an inoperative position of the axle and the holding element, to prevent the spring from biasing the pawl toward the ratchet and the yarn from being tensioned, whereby the tension member is maintained in relation to the stopping member preventing operation of the machine.

7. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a machine-stopping member, a yarntensioning member, a bobbin having its axis transverse to the standard, an axle movable along said axis between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, a ratchet wheel carried by the bobbin, a pawl for the ratchet, a movable element for holding the axle in operative position, and means including a spring connected between, and oppositely biasing, the pawl and the axle-holding element, said means operating, in the operative position of the axle held by said element, to bias the pawl toward the ratchet, and, in an inoperative position of the axle and the holding element, with the axle protruding laterally from the standard in position to engage another carrier, to prevent the spring from biasing the pawl toward the ratchet and the yarn from being tensioned whereby the tension member is maintained in relation to the stopping member preventing operation of the machine.

8. In a braiding carrier, the combination with a base for operation in the raceway of a braiding machine, of astop member positioned adjacent to said raceway, a standard on the base, a strand-carrying bobbin, an axle rotatably and removably supporting the bobbin on the standard, a ratchet for controlling the feeding of strand from the bobbin, a pawl for controlling said ratchet, alock lever for holding the axle in position on the standard, spring means connected between the pawl and the lock lever for biasing the lock lever towardand beyond its operative position and the pawl against the ratchet, a lever pivoted on the base, for operating said stop member, and a strand-tensioning lever pivoted on the standard and effective in one position to release the pawl from the ratchet and in another position to move the stop-actuating lever to position for actuating the stop member.

9. In a braiding carrier, the combination with a base, of an upright standard disposed on the base and supporting a yarn guide, a rotatable bobbin transversely supported on the standard, an axle removably supported on the standard for removably supporting the bobbin, a ratchet on the bobbin, a pawl fulcrumed on the standard and coacting with said ratchet to control the unwinding of the bobbin and determine the length of yarn intermediate the bobbin and said yarn guide, a lever for locking the axle in operative position, means connecting the pawl to said lock lever, a stop-actuating lever pivoted on the base, a yarn-tensioning lever pivoted to the standard between the pawl and the stop-actuating lever, a yarn guide carried by said tensioning lever, said tensioning lever having defined maximum and minimum strand-tensioning positions and operating to actuate the pawl and the stop-actuating lever respectively upon passing beyond said positions.

10. A braiding-machine carrier comprising a standard, a bobbin, an axle movable along the bobbin axis between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, the latter having portions for cooperative engagement with the axle adjacent to the axle ends, and said portions and the axle being cooperatively constructed whereby the axle must be approached axially to operative position such that its leading and trailing ends are each only receivable at one and the same cooperatively engaging of said portions of the standard, said leading end constituting a lock element, and a member movably mounted on the standard constituting a cooperating lock element biased toward the lock element of the axle, the lock elements having cooperating substantially camming action whereby, when the axle is inserted to within a certain distance short of its operative position, it will, upon release of the inserting force, be reversely moved by-the camming action of, and the bias between, the locking elements.

11. In a braiding carrier, the combination together with a base, of a double-arm standard on the base, an axle supported between the standard arms and having a. recessed portion therein, a bobbin provided with a ratchet and rotatably mounted on the axle, a pawl fulcrumed on the standard and coacting with the ratchet for controlling the unwinding of the bobbin, and a lock including a spring and an element pivotally mounted on one arm of the standard and held in engagement with the recessed portion of the axle by the spring, the spring being secured at one end to said lock element and at its other end to said pawl, whereby both the lock element and the pawl are yieldingly held in their operative positions.

12. In a braiding carrier, the combination with a base, of a double-arm standard on the base, an axle supported between the arms of the standard and having a grooved portion therein, a bobbin provided with a ratchet and rotatably mounted on the axle, a pawl fulcrumed on the standard and coacting with said ratchet for controlling the unwinding of the bobbin, a lock including a spring and an element held in engagement with said grooved portion of the axle by the spring, the latter extending between said lock and said pawl, a yarn-tensioning lever pivoted on the standard, a spring coacting with said yarn lever for tensioning the yarn, and a stop lever pivoted on the base and operable by the yarn-tensioning lever, said yarn lever being effective to actuate the stop lever upon the yarn tension dropping below a predetermined minimum.

13. In a braiding carrier for travelling in a raceway, the combination with a base, of a double-arm standard carried by the base, a rotatable bobbin, an axle carried by the arms of said standard and supporting the bobbin, a lock lever for operatively positioning said axle, a ratchet on the bobbin, a pawl fulcrumed on the standard for coaction with the ratchet to control the feeding of strand from the bobbin, a stop-actuating lever pivoted on the base, a yarntensioning lever. pivoted to said standard between the pawl and the stop-actuating lever for operating said stop-actuating lever, a spring between the lock lever and the pawl for normally maintaining the pawl in engagement with said ratchet member, said latch being operable to disengage the ratchet upon the withdrawal of the axle from the arms of the standard whereupon unwinding of the bobbin causes the yarn-tensioning lever to depress the stop-actuating lever to automatically stop the carrier.

14. A braiding-machine comprising a standard, a movable combined. shock-absorbing and machine-stoppingmember biased by a given force away from its stopping position, a bobbin adapted to carry a strand package having convolutions tending to separately. unwind at individual positions, means including a single member extending substantially throughout the length of the package for preventing said unwinding, means movable between positions holding the bobbin to, and releasing it from, the standard, means including a member for controlling the tension and the feed of the yarn from the bobbin having a bias opposite to, and of greater force than, the bias of the stopping member and disposed in the path of movement thereof such that, upon release of the yarn tension, the control member moves the stopping member to stopping position and has the shock of impact therebetween absorbed thereby, and means cooperating between said control means and said holding means in the holding position thereof to provide for yarn-tensioning cooperation between the bobbin and the control means, and in the releasing position of said holding means to prevent tensioning of the yarn and to maintain the stop ping member in position to prevent operation of the machine.

' MAX KRISSIEP. 

